Short stories

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Short stories

Analysis

Death by Scrabble

Read the text

Take notes, using the analysis matrix

Finished reading? Write a short summary, in Dutch.

Foreshadowing/ Forecasting

Je krijgt hints die je pas achteraf begrijpt.

Deze term komt voor in je toets!

Irony

Ironie is een techniek waarbij de werkelijke betekenis van woorden tegenovergesteld is aan hun letterlijke betekenis. Deze techniek wordt vaak gebruikt om humor, spot, of nadruk te geven.

Ook deze term komt op de toets!

What do you remember from the story Death by Scrabble?

Which keywords describe the SETTING.

1. living room cold day
2. living room hot day
3. balcony hot day
4. balcony cold day

What do we know about the husband?

1. 42 years old
2. he hates his wife
3. he is unhappy
4. he loves his wife

What do we know about the wife?

1. she only cares about herself
2. she loves her husband
3. she wants to kill her husband
4. nothing

Which of these things could be considered forecasting?

1. The wife's scrabble words
2. The husband's scrabble words
3. The wife only makes 1 cup of tea
4. The man's habit of chewing on the tiles

What is the plot twist in this story?
You may answer in Dutch.

Choose one of the words and make a sentence about the story

The Open Window

Page 64

What is true about Framton Nuttel?

1. recovering from mental breakdown
2. he doesn't believe in ghosts
3. he went to India in the past
4. he knows many people in town

What is true about Vera?

1. she has a lively imagination
2. she is an adult
3. she knows Framton

Which words describe the setting (time/place/mood) of the story?

1. ghostly atmosphere
2. October
3. unfriendly
4. rainy day

What is the plot twist in this story?
You may answer in Dutch.

Describe in what way(s) forecasting is used in this story.

"Do you know many of the people round here?"
- Why did the girl ask this?

Choose one of the words and make a sentence about the story

Let's discuss The Lamb to the Slaughter - What do you remember?

Match the name of the character to their matching box.

disrespectful

detective

obedient

greengrocer

Mrs Maloney

Mr Maloney

Jack Noonan

Sam

What is the plot twist in this story?
Describe in your own words

Plot twist

- Sweet and innocent Mary Maloney turns out to be the killer.

- The policemen eat the murder weapon.

Why is Mary's pregnancy relevant for the story?

Mary's pregnancy

The pregancy partly explains the choices she makes: she calls the police after getting back to the house. 

She gets an alibi after murdering her husband: so she won't be a suspect, and her child won't be taken away. 

Give examples of foreshadowing in the story.

Foreshadowing

* Patrick returning home from work: moody, drinking more than he usually does. Getting ready to give bad news.​

* Mary, in front of the mirror, trying to smile (greengrocer used as an alibi so Mary plans on getting away with murder).​

* The leg of lamb that was deliberately put in the oven (frozen!) and offered to the policemen.

Irony - an example

​

"Personally, I think it's right here on the premises."​

"Probably right under our very noses. What you think, Jack?"​

And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle.

Which statements could be labelled as irony?
(there's more than 1 correct answer)

1. The police officers eat the murder weapon
2. Mary is pregnant
3. Patrick wants to have a drink
4. Patrick (a detective) becomes a murder victim

Today's lesson

- start Death by Scrabble (p. 77 - 79)

 - take notes, especially about foreshadowing and irony. 

There's also the opportunity to have a look at your test - fill in the evaluation form. --> small groups.

The Landlady - what do you remember?

Describe the plot twist in The Landlady

Plot twist

- the landlady looked like a nice old lady, but she's not...

- the animals seemed alive, but are stuffed

- the boy will be added to the woman's 'collection'

Foreshadowing in The Landlady -
describe in your own words

Some clues...

• there are weird smells in the house (and the tea smells weird)
• the landlady says she's been expecting him
• he is the only guest
• he recognizes the names in the guest book 

Prepare for test 

In groups of four, discuss each short story using the short story analysis matrix.

Create possible test questions (and answers).